Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-12-07

face Her eyes were closed, and her
head fell heavily on his arm, the hair,
from which the fastenings were gone,
falling over his shoulder in a thick
mass and floating on the stream.
The incident had been observed from
the chaya, and number of men now
stood on the bank. by whose aid the
two were soon placed in safety. When
KampeI had seen the girl restored to
animation and given in charge of the
female servants, he was forced to join
the other guests, by whom he was
clapped on the shoulders and praised as
hero.
He slept soundly until awoke by the
harsh sound of the shutters being moved
in their grooves and by the sunlight
pouring in through the semi-transpar-
ent screens. Being desirous of avoiding
Niya he did not wait for breakfast, but
set out at once.
kampei was ove1oyed on reach ing
home to find hls parents well and
happy, their only trouble since his de-
parture having been that caused by the
avarice of their landlord. He was
pained to hear of O-Suba'S unfeeling
woIds on the occasion of his mothers
visit 10 the cottage, and the old lady's
story made it evident that the subse-
quent sending of the money was chiefly
due To Niya's intercesslon. Then 1t
occurred to him that the girls present
position might be owing to a quarrel
with her relative on this very subject,
and the idea made him remOrseful
Finally he was informed that, despite
her engagement to him, o Suba had
during his absence found another lover,
European trader at one OF the ports,
with hair and beard golden as the
tresSes of the sun goddess, and that
there were rumors of their approaching
marriage.
HIS thought turned to poor Niya,
neglected by her relatives, insulted by
him, and left TO battle alone with
world that is SO cruel to the weak.
kampei long lay awake that night,
and the result CT his meditations was
made known to his parents when he
sprang from his mat soon after day
break. The old couple approved OF his
proposals, and went TO the veranda to
say farewell, and to watch him fondly
as he walked with light step towards
the highway, tying under his chin as
he went his conical broad brimmed
straw hat. Before he had gone far his
father called HIM back. Take my
purse, son." he said: ''chaya keepers
are very hard to deal with unless they
see the money bag in your hand. You
Will find in this the gold pieces you
brought home yesterday"
The sun was still high In the heavens
when Kampei stopped at the ''Chaya of
the Verdant Cherry Blossom" and.
after exchanging salutations with the
proprietor, begged TO see the girl Niya.
She was brought into his presence,
looking pale and alarmed, and casting
timid glances at the young man from
under her long lashes. Her hands
played nervousiy with her robe and she
looked about anxiously tor place as
far as possible from Kampei.
"Nlya," he said, 81 am not angry
with you, but want to know why you
left home"
A faint cry was her only reply.
Had 1 any connection with i'll,
Kampei?"
The girl wrung her hands and turned
her face away. looking distressed, with
out, however, uttering word.
"Would you like TO come home again,
| little Niya?" he went on in an encour-
aging voice.
yah, yahI you are too fast, young
sirl' broke in the master, who was sit
| ting on the veranda smoking, and lis
| tening to Kampei. ou are too fast.
She is mine for two years. L have the
agreement signed by herself, with her
receipt for the money"
Money!" cried Kampei- "She has
sold herself, then. But" he continued
more calmly, 81 am willing to pay you
back again See," and saying this be
/ drew out his purse, showing to the
master of the house number of gold
] GsIyntv nnnrh II
| good sir?"
Eighty riyos,' the host replied.
Eighty riyoS," echoed Kampei, a
| light dawning upon him.
why" the host went on angrily,
''that is the very purse in which gave
the girl the money, and yet you pretend
not to know that she is bound TO mel
/ What is the meaning.of this decIte?"
Kampei recoiled. All was now plain
| to him. To save his parents from ruin,
his father probably from death, this
poor girl, tenderly reared, sold herself
into virtual slavery, where exhausting
labor, i'll treatment, even stripes, would
be her lott And he had almost allowed
her to drown herself when driven mad
by his tauntsl Poor NIyal And she
did this for-was it for his parents or
for himp The question made him
thoughtful.
Meanwhile Niya, her forehead pressed
against the partition, sobbed. The
moment she longed for had arrived.
Kampei now knew why she was there,
knew that it was for his sake she left
her dear village. Yet she was fright
ened. What business had she to inter-
fere in the affairs of grown people?
What did she know of the great world
I a., lfrrh~ ~lt-S
Above everything there was kanpei
only a few feet from her, looking at
her most lntensely-she knew it with
out turning around; she felt his gaze
pierce her-there was Kampei and what
should she dop
Kampei rose, moved to Niya's side
and whispered: ''Was 1t for my sake
you did this. Niya?"
"Why should 1 do it for you?" she
replied, evasively.
'sNiya," he said, looking sharply al
her, ~ am no longer afiianced to
O-Suba; she loves a fair haired for
eigner, and is about to marry him."
She turned quickly, her cheeks glow.
ing, her eyes sparkling through tear:
like the sun through mist, and in the
happy smile that lit up her face Kan
pei read her secret
"Then you love mei' he cried; and
Niya's smile add blush said Yes"
"You did not consult the girls rela
! tives," said the young man, turning L
the host.
'.She told me she had none," stam
mered the other. alarmed for the legal
Ity of his agreement.
destroy the indenture, and receiv,
, back your money, good sir. L beg